Hydrodearomatization of hydrocarbons

Abstract

A naphtha or a middle distillate hydrocarbon is hydrodearomatized by hydrotreating in the presence of a catalyst containing boron, non-noble Group VIII metal, and Group VIB metal on a carbon support.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. The method of treating a charge hydrocarbon oil containing undesired aromatic components which comprises maintaining a bed of sulfided catalyst containing boron, a metal of non-noble Group VIII, and a metal of Group VIB on a carbon support;   passing a charge hydrocarbon feed in the presence of hydrogen into contact with said sulfided catalyst containing boron, a metal of non-noble Group VIII and a metal of VIB on a carbon support at hydrotreating conditions thereby effecting hydrodearomatization of said charge hydrocarbon feed containing undesired aromatic components and forming a product stream of hydrocarbon containing a lesser quantity of undesired aromatic components; and   recovering said product stream of hydrocarbon containing a lesser quantity of undesired aromatic components.   
     
     
       2. The method of treating a charge hydrocarbon containing undesired aromatic components as claimed in claim 1 wherein said charge hydrocarbon is a naphtha. 
     
     
       3. The method of treating a charge hydrocarbon containing undesired aromatic components as claimed in claim 1 wherein said charge hydrocarbon is a middle distillate. 
     
     
       4. The method of treating a charge hydrocarbon containing undesired aromatic components as claimed in claim 1 wherein said charge hydrocarbon is a gas oil. 
     
     
       5. The method of treating a charge hydrocarbon containing undesired aromatic components as claimed in claim 1 wherein said charge hydrocarbon is a diesel fuel. 
     
     
       6. The method of treating a charge hydrocarbon containing undesired aromatic components as claimed in claim 1 wherein said charge hydrocarbon is a kerosene or a heavy naphtha. 
     
     
       7. The method of treating a charge hydrocarbon containing undesired aromatic components as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hydrotreating conditions include a temperature of 200° C.-450° C. at 200-3,000 psig pressure. 
     
     
       8. The method of treating a charge hydrocarbon containing undesired aromatic components as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hydrotreating conditions include temperature of 300° C.-410° C. at 400-2,500 psig, at liquid space velocity LHSV of 0.1-10, and hydrogen feed rate of 200-10,000 SCFB. 
     
     
       9. The method of treating a charge hydrocarbon containing undesired aromatic components as claimed in claim 1 wherein said non-noble Group VIII metal is nickel. 
     
     
       10. The method of treating a charge hydrocarbon containing undesired aromatic components as claimed in claim 1 wherein said Group VIB metal is tungsten. 
     
     
       11. The method of treating a charge hydrocarbon containing undesired aromatic components as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carbon support is a carbon extrudate. 
     
     
       12. The method of treating a charge hydrocarbon containing undesired aromatic components as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carbon support is a pelletized carbon containing a refractory inorganic matrix. 
     
     
       13. The method of treating a charge hydrocarbon containing undesired aromatic components as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carbon support is characterized by a BET surface area of at least about 200 m 2  /g, a total pore volume for nitrogen of at least about 0.3 cc/g, and an average pore diameter, calculated from nitrogen physisorption of at least about 12 Angstroms. 
     
     
       14. The method of treating a charge hydrocarbon containing undesired aromatic components as claimed in claim 1 wherein said boron is incorporated as an inorganic boron compound. 
     
     
       15. The method of treating a charge hydrocarbon containing undesired aromatic components as claimed in claim 14 wherein said boron is incorporated as boric acid or a tetraborate salt. 
     
     
       16. The method of treating a charge hydrocarbon containing undesired aromatic components as claimed in claim 14 wherein said boron is incorporated as ammonium tetraborate (NH 4 ) 2  B 4  O 7 . 
     
     
       17. The method of treating a charge naphtha or middle distillate hydrocarbon oil containing undesired aromatic components, sulfur and nitrogen compounds, which comprises maintaining a bed of sulfided catalyst containing boron, a metal of non-noble Group VIII, and a metal of Group VIB on a carbon support;   passing a charge hydrocarbon feed in the presence of hydrogen into contact with said sulfided catalyst containing boron, a metal of non-noble Group VIII and a metal of VIB on a carbon support at hydrotreating conditions thereby effecting hydrodearomatization of said charge hydrocarbon feed containing undesired aromatic components and forming a product stream of hydrocarbon containing a lesser quantity of undesired aromatic components, and a lesser quantity of sulfur and nitrogen compounds; and   recovering said product stream of hydrocarbon containing a lesser quantity of undesired aromatic components, sulfur and nitrogen.